A few years ago it was all about knitting. 'Stitch and bitch' groups were cropping up all over the US and the UK, Rachel Matthews and her Cast Off clan were knitting on London's tubes and getting thrown out of the Savoy, and celebrities were all too eager to confess to the glossies about their love of all things yarn-related.

This year, while knitting is still massively popular, sewing has become the next big craft thing. We've all read the news reports about rising sales of sewing machines and sewing classes, and have seen Gok Wan cut and stitch his high-street bargains to compete with designer frocks on Channel 4.

But making your own clothes and the odd cushion cover isn't the only decent thing you can do with a needle and thread. While no one was looking, embroidery, cross stitch and needlepoint got good. Among many, many others, there's Julie Jackson and her subversive cross stitch (who can resist traditionally designed samplers that scream "chill the fuck out" and "homo sweet homo"?), Emily Peacock and her beautiful tapestry kits, and CrossStitcher magazine which, although still pretty traditional, is planning collaborations with the likes of Laura Ashley and publishes a Stitch a Star design each issue (we featured their Obama sampler back in January).

Inspired by all that, I wanted to venture back into embroidery (previous forays, aged 11, were not all successful). I didn't fancy making something I couldn't use, such as a sampler, so happened upon the idea of using a hessian bag bought from a supermarket as a base for my embroidered designs (the weave is similar to that of aida, a fabric used in cross-stitch).

Flowers seemed particularly fitting, as the Chelsea Flower Show opens today, but you can use their stitches on any design you want - I reckon simple lines of different stitches would look really good. And don't fret if you mess up a stitch - it took me several attempts to get the chain stitch right. Just unpick it and start again.

What you need

Hessian bag Selection of embroidery threadsEmbroidery needle (a non-embroidery needle will work if you want to use something you already own)ScissorsScraps of fabric or ribbonButtons or other embellishments

What it costs

Hessian bags are sold in most large supermarkets for about £1: mine came from Tesco and I covered up the ladybird pattern and logo with my floral design. Embroidery threads cost about £1 per eight metres.

How long will it take?

Anywhere from one hour upwards, depending on the complexity of the design.

What to do

The finished shopping bag. Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

I designed the basic pattern on paper before I put needle to bag. The felt leaves went on first, then I made flowers and sewed them on. Finally, I added the embroidery. Embroidery thread is six-ply, meaning that it is made up from six individual strands: you can use all six strand together, or just use three strands, or even two, depending on how thick you want your thread to be.

Rather than explain how to do each stitch, here is a list of the techniques I used, and links to videos that show you exactly how to do them. Click on the big picture at the top of the page to see how each numbered stitch should look.

1. Chain stitchIt may look complicated, but it really isn't. Great for swirls, borders and outlines.

2. French knotsA simple way to create little 3D stitches. I used all six strands of embroidery thread to make my knots this big.

3. Fern stitchObviously perfect for this project as it resembles a leaf, but it could also work in non-floral designs.

4 and 7. Back stitchA really simple stitch. I used it to sew on and decorate all my leaves (number 7) and to sew on and embellish my large pink flower (number four). I really like the effect of not sewing neatly along the outline of the petal.

5, 8 and 15. RosettesThese flowers were made the same way as the brooches in my first Making Time project, but with a few added extras. Number 8 has a little lazy daisy (see number 6) stitch in the middle, number 15 has a sprinkle of glass beads sewn on and on number five is covered in tiny seed stitches to add sparkle.

9, 13 and 18. ButtonsAdded for texture and to give the bag some more 3D elements. Notice how I have made a feature of the thread I sewed the buttons on with - I used a contrasting colour, and rather than sewing them on with a cross, I went for a square (number 9) and an arrow-shaped (number 12) design.

10. Buttonhole wheels and seed stitchThe buttonhole wheel is the white stitches; the seed stitches are the tiny gold ones in the centre of the flower.

11 and 16. Blanket stitchUsed to edge my petals: I find that it works best with felt (number 11) but can also be used with thin material too (number 16). I pinned the petals of number 16 to the bag first, then added the blanket stitch, whereas for number 11 I cut out a flower, added the blanket stitch, then sewed the shape to the bag.

12 and 19. Running stitchThe easiest of all the stitches, but it can still be effective. I followed the outline of the flower shape on number 19, but followed the lines of the material on number 12. Remember, you don't have to be exact or precise at all.

14. CouchingThis involves attaching a piece of thread to fabric by sewing small stitches over the top of it with a, usually thinner, thread in a contrasting colour. I used the technique to create a swirl; you could use it in a straight line or more elaborate pattern.

Where to find more help

Sew It Up: A Modern Manual of Practical and Decorative Sewing Techniques, by Ruth Singer (Kyle Cathie, £19.99) My sewing bible, with a section on embroidery and another on other types of stitch. amazon.co.uk